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Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

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At least 91 records · Page 5

Development of remote crane system for use inside small argon hot-cell

In this paper, we describe the design of a novel crane system for the use in a small argon hot-cell where only a pair of master-slave manipulators (MSM) is available for the remote maintenance of the crane. To increase the remote maintainability in the space-limited environment, we devised a remote actuation mechanism in which electrical parts consisting of a servo-motor, a position sensor, and two limit switches located inside the workspace of the MSM transmit power to the mechanical parts located in the ceiling. Even though the design concept does not provide thoroughly sufficient solution because the mechanical parts are placed out of the MSM's workspace, the durability of mechanical parts can be easily increased if they have a high safety margin. Therefore, the concept may be one of the best solutions for our special crane system. In addition, we developed a servo-control system based on absolute positioning technology; therefore, it is possible for us to perform the given tasks more safely through an automatic operation. (authors)

42 ENGINEERING↗

Investigation robot on cables - 15250

The Decontamination and Decommissioning (D and D) Operations take place in hostile environments to the human intervention. In this context, robotic systems are a solution to achieve these operations while minimizing human intervention. Among these operations, the monitoring of lengthwise plant has to be performed in places where the radioactive contaminations make hostile environments. These monitoring operations need to measure several physics parameters in several locations in a precise and safe manner. These repetitive tasks can be made by robots that are simple, small sized and easily adaptable. In this scope, a robotic system on cables has been designed to control and monitor the inside of lengthwise nuclear facilities. In lengthwise installations, the using of cables allows to increase the covered zone of the robots which is an essential quality in such places. Unlike cable-driven parallel robots used in workspaces of 2D or 3D controlled by redundant tensioning motors, the current robot moves in a 1D workspace. Thus a tractors cable controlled by one tensioning motor is used to drive the robot on carrier cables. In this paper, we will describe the first results of this work by bringing out the innovation of our system. Then, we will discuss the perspective to upgrade the actual system whose applications could be perfectly imagined outside the nuclear D and D industry. (authors)

42 ENGINEERING↗

Automatic Code Generation for High-Performance Graph Algorithms

Graph problems are common across fields of scientific computing and social sciences. However, despite their importance, implementing graph algorithms effectively on modern computing systems is a challenging task that requires significant programming effort and generally results in customized implementations. Current computing and memory hierarchies are not architected for irregular computations resulting in challenges for graph algorithms to achieve high performance on those architectures. In this paper, we present GraphX, a novel compiler framework and DSL designed to simplify the development of efficient graph algorithms and achieve high performance on modern computing systems. GraphX consists of a DSL for efficient implementation of graph algorithms, various optimizations, such as support for sparse linear algebra and workspace transformations, optimized graph primitives, including semiring and masking, and a high-performance code generation engine. Using GraphX, users can implement graph algorithms using a semantically-rich language with graph-oriented operators. GraphX uses these semantics to automatically generate efficient code for target architectures, increasing performance and portability across architectures. The composable nature of GraphX makes it possible to extend the set of optimizations and architectures without modifying the source code. We demonstrate GraphX outperforms state-of-the-art graph libraries, such as LAGraph, up to $3.7 speedup in semiring operations, $2.19 speedup in an important sparse computational kernel, and $9.05 speedup in graph processing algorithms.

compiler, graph algorithms, semiring, masking, wor↗

Simulation of the Quality Criterion of a Mixture in a Drum-Belt Apparatus

A method is proposed for calculating the inhomogeneity coefficient in the workspace of a drum-belt mixer of bulk components with brush elements in a three-stage batch mixing method with non-uniform proportioning. The method is based on a stochastic model of the motion of rarefied particle flows following interaction with flexible elements fixed along a helical line on the surface of the mixer drums. The principal coefficients affecting the quality of a bulk mixture are analyzed in the form of combined structural and regime complexes of parameters of the mixer and the characteristics of the physical and mechanical state of the mixed media are analyzed. The results obtained can be used to develop an engineering technique for calculating the parameters of a new drum-belt mixer of friable components.

42 ENGINEERING↗

The SuperCam Instrument Suite on the NASA Mars 2020 Rover: Body Unit and Combined System Tests

The SuperCam instrument suite provides the Mars 2020 rover, Perseverance, with a number of versatile remote-sensing techniques that can be used at long distance as well as within the robotic-arm workspace. These include laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS), remote time-resolved Raman and luminescence spectroscopies, and visible and infrared (VISIR; separately referred to as VIS and IR) reflectance spectroscopy. A remote micro-imager (RMI) provides high-resolution color context imaging, and a microphone can be used as a stand-alone tool for environmental studies or to determine physical properties of rocks and soils from shock waves of laser-produced plasmas. SuperCam is built in three parts: The mast unit (MU), consisting of the laser, telescope, RMI, IR spectrometer, and associated electronics, is described in a companion paper. The on-board calibration targets are described in another companion paper. Here we describe SuperCam’s body unit (BU) and testing of the integrated instrument. The BU, mounted inside the rover body, receives light from the MU via a 5.8 m optical fiber. The light is split into three wavelength bands by a demultiplexer, and is routed via fiber bundles to three optical spectrometers, two of which (UV and violet; 245–340 and 385–465 nm) are crossed Czerny-Turner reflection spectrometers, nearly identical to their counterparts on ChemCam. The third is a high-efficiency transmission spectrometer containing an optical intensifier capable of gating exposures to 100 ns or longer, with variable delay times relative to the laser pulse. This spectrometer covers 535–853 nm ( $105\text{--}7070~\text{cm}^{-1}$ Raman shift relative to the 532 nm green laser beam) with $12~\text{cm}^{-1}$ full-width at half-maximum peak resolution in the Raman fingerprint region. The BU electronics boards interface with the rover and control the instrument, returning data to the rover. Thermal systems maintain a warm temperature during cruise to Mars to avoid contamination on the optics, and cool the detectors during operations on Mars.Results obtained with the integrated instrument demonstrate its capabilities for LIBS, for which a library of 332 standards was developed. Examples of Raman and VISIR spectroscopy are shown, demonstrating clear mineral identification with both techniques. Luminescence spectra demonstrate the utility of having both spectral and temporal dimensions. Finally, RMI and microphone tests on the rover demonstrate the capabilities of these subsystems as well.

47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION↗

Dynamic analysis of fully constrained Cable-Driven Parallel Robots for automated prefabricated component installation

This paper presents a dynamic analysis and validation framework to assess a fully constrained six-anchor Cable-Driven Parallel Robot (CDPR) for automated installation of prefabricated facade components. Compared with conventional eight-anchor systems, the six-anchor configuration simplifies setup and reduces cost, but it also reduces control authority, shrinks the wrench-feasible workspace, and tightens orientation limits. Consequently, it is unclear a priori whether dynamically feasible trajectories exist to move the end effector from pickup to the facade. A constrained trajectory optimization is formulated to enforce the system dynamics, cable-tension bounds, and pose/velocity limits, and the framework is evaluated in simulation at three levels: (i) an idealized reference model, (ii) a lab-scale prototype model incorporating measured anchor misalignments and identified damping, and (iii) a full-scale three-story building model with load decomposition for structural feasibility checks. Across these scenarios, the analysis shows that optimal, constraint-satisfying trajectories exist that move the end effector from pickup to installation while maintaining a near-plumb, level orientation at the final pose. Collectively, this multi-scale dynamic analysis and validation framework supports the deployment readiness of the six-anchor CDPR and provides a prototype-based sensitivity case study of how measured anchor placement deviations affect feasibility.

CDPR↗

Human-building interaction at work: Findings from an interdisciplinary cross-country survey in Italy

This study presents results from an interdisciplinary survey assessing contextual and behavioral factors driving occupants’ interaction with building and systems in offices located across three different Mediterranean climates in Turin (Northern), Perugia (Central), and Rende (Southern) Italy. The survey instrument is grounded in an interdisciplinary framework that bridges the gap between building physics and social science environments on the energy- and comfort-related human-building interaction in the workspace. Outcomes of the survey questionnaire provide insights into four key learning objectives: (1) individual occupant's motivational drivers regarding interaction with shared building environmental controls (such as adjustable thermostats, operable windows, blinds and shades, and artificial lighting), (2) group dynamics such as perceived social norms, attitudes, and intention to share controls, (3) occupant perception of the ease of use and knowledge of how to operate control systems, and (4) occupant-perceived comfort, satisfaction, and productivity. The study attempts to identify climatic, cultural, and socio-demographic influencing factors, as well as to establish the validity of the survey instrument and robustness of outcomes for future studies. Also, the paper aims at illustrating why and how social science insights can bring innovative knowledge into the adoption of building technologies in shared contexts, thus enhancing perceived environmental satisfaction and effectiveness of personal indoor climate control in office settings and impacting office workers’ productivity and reduced operational energy costs.

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATI↗

Hybrid metal additive/subtractive machine tools and applications

Additive manufacturing creates parts by depositing a preform, typically layer by layer. Subtractive manufacturing involves removing material from a preform to create parts. Hybrid machine tools combine both additive and subtractive processes in the same workspace. They can be used to create parts that meet functional tolerance and surface finish requirements, or to create features that are difficult to produce using additive or subtractive processes alone. Here, this paper describes hybrid metal additive/subtractive machine tools. It covers design considerations, sensors and controls, process management, programming and software, and the impact on the design space. It also identifies future research challenges.

42 ENGINEERING↗

Large High Resolution Displays for Co-Located Collaborative Sensemaking: Display Usage and Territoriality

Large, high-resolution vertical displays carry the potential to increase the accuracy of collaborative sensemaking, given correctly designed visual analytics tools. From an exploratory user study using a fictional textual intelligence analysis task, we investigated how users interact with the display to construct spatial schemas and externalize information, as well as how they establish shared and private territories. We investigated the space management strategies of users partitioned by type of tool philosophy followed (visualization- or text-centric). We classified the types of territorial behavior exhibited in terms of how the users interacted with information on the display (integrated or independent workspaces). Next, we examined how territorial behavior impacted the common ground between the pairs of users. Finally, we offer design suggestions for building future co-located collaborative visual analytics tools specifically for use on large, high-resolution vertical displays.

co-located collaborative sensemaking↗

Presentation layer of CMS Online Monitoring System

The Compact Muon Solenoid (CMS) is one of the experiments at the CERN Large Hadron Collider (LHC). The CMS Online Monitoring system (OMS) is an upgrade and successor to the CMS Web-Based Monitoring (WBM)system, which is an essential tool for shift crew members, detector subsystem experts, operations coordinators, and those performing physics analyses. The CMS OMS is divided into aggregation and presentation layers. Communication between layers uses RESTful JSON:API compliant requests. The aggregation layer is responsible for collecting data from heterogeneous sources, storage of transformed and pre-calculated (aggregated) values and exposure of data via the RESTful API. The presentation layer displays detector information via a modern, user-friendly and customizable web interface. The CMS OMS user interface is composed of a set of cutting-edge software frameworks and tools to display non-event data to any authenticated CMS user worldwide. The web interface tree-like component structure comprises (top-down): workspaces, folders, pages, controllers and portlets. A clear hierarchy gives the required flexibility and control for content organization. Each bottom element instantiates a portlet and is a reusable component that displays a single aspect of data, like a table, a plot, an article, etc. Pages consist of multiple different portlets and can be customized at runtime by using a drag-and-drop technique. This is how a single page can easily include information from multiple online sources. Different pages give access to a summary of the current status of the experiment, as well as convenient access to historical data. This paper describes the CMS OMS architecture, core concepts and technologies of the presentation layer.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗

Design, analysis and testing of a parallel-kinematic high-bandwidth XY nanopositioning stage

This paper presents the design, analysis, and testing of a parallel-kinematic high-bandwidth XY nanopositioning stage driven by piezoelectric stack actuators. The stage is designed with two kinematic chains. In each kinematic chain, the end-effector of the stage is connected to the base by two symmetrically distributed flexure modules, respectively. Each flexure module comprises a fixed-fixed beam and a parallelogram flexure serving as two orthogonal prismatic joints. With the purpose to achieve high resonance frequencies of the stage, a novel center-thickened beam which has large stiffness is proposed to act as the fixed-fixed beam. The center-thickened beam also contributes to reducing cross-coupling and restricting parasitic motion. To decouple the motion in two axes totally, a symmetric configuration is adopted for the parallelogram flexures. Based on the analytical models established in static and dynamic analysis, the dimensions of the stage are optimized in order to maximize the first resonance frequency. Then finite element analysis is utilized to validate the design and a prototype of the stage is fabricated for performance tests. According to the results of static and dynamic tests, the resonance frequencies of the developed stage are over 13.6 kHz and the workspace is 11.2 μm × 11.6 μm with the cross-coupling between two axes less than 0.52%. It is clearly demonstrated that the developed stage has high resonance frequencies, a relatively large travel range, and nearly decoupled performance between two axes. For high-speed tracking performance tests, an inversion-based feedforward controller is implemented for the stage to compensate for the positioning errors caused by mechanical vibration. The experimental results show that good tracking performance at high speed is achieved, which validates the effectiveness of the developed stage.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗

Magnetic tweezers with high permeability electromagnets for fast actuation of magnetic beads

As a powerful and versatile scientific instrument, magnetic tweezers have been widely used in biophysical research areas, such as mechanical cell properties and single molecule manipulation. If one wants to steer bead position, the nonlinearity of magnetic properties and the strong position dependence of the magnetic field in most magnetic tweezers lead to quite a challenge in their control. In this article, we report multi-pole electromagnetic tweezers with high permeability cores yielding high force output, good maneuverability, and flexible design. For modeling, we adopted a piece-wise linear dependence of magnetization on field to characterize the magnetic beads. We implemented a bi-linear interpolation of magnetic field in the work space, based on a lookup table obtained from finite element simulation. The electronics and software were custom-made to achieve high performance. In addition, the effects of dimension and defect on structure of magnetic tips also were inspected. In a workspace with size of 0.1 × 0.1 mm{sup 2}, a force of up to 400 pN can be applied on a 2.8 μm superparamagnetic bead in any direction within the plane. Because the magnetic particle is always pulled towards a tip, the pulling forces from the pole tips have to be well balanced in order to achieve control of the particle’s position. Active video tracking based feedback control is implemented, which is able to work at a speed of up to 1 kHz, yielding good maneuverability of the magnetic beads.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Parametric design of tri-axial nested Helmholtz coils

This paper provides an optimal parametric design for tri-axial nested Helmholtz coils, which are used to generate a uniform magnetic field with controllable magnitude and direction. Circular and square coils, both with square cross section, are considered. Practical considerations such as wire selection, wire-wrapping efficiency, wire bending radius, choice of power supply, and inductance and time response are included. Using the equations provided, a designer can quickly create an optimal set of custom coils to generate a specified field magnitude in the uniform-field region while maintaining specified accessibility to the central workspace. An example case study is included.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗

Characterization of the mechanical properties of HL-1 cardiomyocytes with high throughput magnetic tweezers

We characterized the mechanical properties of cardiomyocyte-like HL-1 cells using our recently developed multi-pole magnetic tweezers. With the optimized design, both high force and high throughput are achieved at the same time. Force up to 100 pN can be applied on a 1 μm diameter superparamagnetic bead in a workspace with 60 μm radius, which is encircled symmetrically by 3 sharp magnetic tips. By adjusting the coil currents, both the strength and direction of force can be controlled. The result shows that both viscosity and shear elastic modulus of HL-1 cells exhibit an approximately log-normal distribution. The cells became stiffer as they matured, consistent with a transition from proliferating cells to contractile muscle tissue. Moreover, the mechanical properties of HL-1 cells show high heterogeneity, which agrees well with their physiological structure.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗

A continuous integration and web framework in support of the ATLAS publication process

The ATLAS collaboration defines methods, establishes procedures, and organises advisory groups to manage the publication processes of scientific papers, conference papers, and public notes. All stages are managed through web systems, computing programs, and tools that are designed and developed by the collaboration. A framework called FENCE is integrated into the CERN GitLab software repository, to automatically configure workspaces where each analysis can be documented by the analysis team and managed by the relevant coordinators. Continuous integration is used to guide the writers in applying consistent and correct formatting when preparing papers to be submitted to scientific journals. Additional software assures the correctness of other aspects of each paper, such as the lists of collaboration authors, funding agencies, and foundations. The framework and the workflow therein provide automatic and easy support to the researchers and facilitates each phase of the publication process, allowing authors to focus on the article contents. The framework and its integration with the most up to date and efficient tools has consequently provided a more professional and efficient automatized work environment to the whole collaboration.

47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION↗

ClusterCAD 2.0: an updated computational platform for chimeric type I polyketide synthase and nonribosomal peptide synthetase design

Abstract Megasynthase enzymes such as type I modular polyketide synthases (PKSs) and nonribosomal peptide synthetases (NRPSs) play a central role in microbial chemical warfare because they can evolve rapidly by shuffling parts (catalytic domains) to produce novel chemicals. If we can understand the design rules to reshuffle these parts, PKSs and NRPSs will provide a systematic and modular way to synthesize millions of molecules including pharmaceuticals, biomaterials, and biofuels. However, PKS and NRPS engineering remains difficult due to a limited understanding of the determinants of PKS and NRPS fold and function. We developed ClusterCAD to streamline and simplify the process of designing and testing engineered PKS variants. Here, we present the highly improved ClusterCAD 2.0 release, available at https://clustercad.jbei.org. ClusterCAD 2.0 boasts support for PKS-NRPS hybrid and NRPS clusters in addition to PKS clusters; a vastly enlarged database of curated PKS, PKS-NRPS hybrid, and NRPS clusters; a diverse set of chemical ‘starters’ and loading modules; the new Domain Architecture Cluster Search Tool; and an offline Jupyter Notebook workspace, among other improvements. Together these features massively expand the chemical space that can be accessed by enzymes engineered with ClusterCAD.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗

PATRIC, the bacterial bioinformatics database and analysis resource

The Pathosystems Resource Integration Center (PATRIC) is the all-bacterial Bioinformatics Resource Center (BRC) (http://www.patricbrc.org). A joint effort by two of the original National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases-funded BRCs, PATRIC provides researchers with an online resource that stores and integrates a variety of data types [e.g. genomics, transcriptomics, protein– protein interactions (PPIs), three-dimensional protein structures and sequence typing data] and associated metadata. Datatypes are summarized for individual genomes and across taxonomic levels. All genomes in PATRIC, currently more than 10 000, are consistently annotated using RAST, the Rapid Annotations using Subsystems Technology. Summaries of different data types are also provided for individual genes, where comparisons of different annotations are available, and also include available transcriptomic data. PATRIC provides a variety of ways for researchers to find data of interest and a private workspace where they can store both genomic and gene associations, and their own private data. Both private and public data can be analyzed together using a suite of tools to perform comparative genomic or transcriptomic analysis. PATRIC also includes integrated information related to disease and PPIs. All the data and integrated analysis and visualization tools are freely available. This manuscript describes updates to the PATRIC since its initial report in the 2007 NAR Database Issue.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗

Network portal: a database for storage, analysis and visualization of biological networks

The ease of generating high-throughput data has enabled investigations into organismal complexity at the systems level through the inference of networks of interactions among the various cellular components (genes, RNAs, proteins and metabolites). The wider scientific community, however, currently has limited access to tools for network inference, visualization and analysis because these tasks often require advanced computational knowledge and expensive computing resources. We have designed the network portal (http://networks.systemsbiology.net) to serve as a modular database for the integration of user uploaded and public data, with inference algorithms and tools for the storage, visualization and analysis of biological networks. The portal is fully integrated into the Gaggle framework to seamlessly exchange data with desktop and web applications and to allow the user to create, save and modify workspaces, and it includes social networking capabilities for collaborative projects. While the current release of the database contains networks for 13 prokaryotic organisms from diverse phylogenetic clades (4678 co-regulated gene modules, 3466 regulators and 9291 cis-regulatory motifs), it will be rapidly populated with prokaryotic and eukaryotic organisms as relevant data become available in public repositories and through user input. The modular architecture, simple data formats and open API support community development of the portal.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗